Coordinator to Federal Tax Ombudsman Meher Kashif Younis has said that investing in rural women, who make up a sizable portion of the population, could be crucial to Pakistan's economic growth by eradicating extreme poverty, and ending hunger. The majority of women reside in rural regions and make a very small contribution to the advancement of the country, he said, addressing a seminar on "Role of Rural Women in National Development." According to him, Pakistan may advance in every area of life if this tremendous untapped potential is used wisely.

This would significantly enhance the socioeconomic status of women across the country. He pleaded with the government to make sure that all public sector organisations hired for rural uplift delivered on their promises; in the absence of this, the work should be given to the private sector with full government backing, which will bring revolution. He said that empowering rural women is one of the most efficient and successful strategic measures to solve these problems since rural women's efforts and skills are essential for battling hunger and poverty.

According to him, rural women make up around half of the agricultural labour worldwide and a quarter of the world's population, whereas in some developing countries, most farmers are women. Meher Kashif Younis stated that rural women are paid 25% less than males for doing the same labour worldwide, including in Pakistan, and that women are also more likely to experience hunger, poverty, and the negative health impacts of inadequate nutrition. He asserted that investing in rural women's empowerment should be considered as securing a society-beneficial untapped resource.

According to recent research, rural women would produce 20% to 30% more if they had access to the same resources as men, including agricultural resources, education, and market opportunities. This would result in a reduction of 100–150 million hungry people worldwide. In addition to expanding investment in socially inclusive measures that empower women, youth, and ethnic minorities, he said, we need to work closely to strengthen our capacity to upgrade agricultural productivity, combat poverty, and promote food security.

According to him, China has the largest e-commerce market in the world, with items sold reaching over $4 trillion in sales last year. He also noted that many well-known sales platforms have been a practical move for farmers and retailers who even sell directly to customers within the country. He stated that Pakistan may learn from Chinese experience to attain the desired outcomes of economic development, as the existence of the nation outside rests solely on a strong economy.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk